What a Week!

We last left off with getting ready for Daniel's surgery last Friday - so we'll start there. Daniel was a real champ going through his tonsil and adenoid -ectomy. The surgery center near the house was wonderful with him - such great detail with small children. It was the same place and doctors where Ashley had hers done 3 years ago and it was another wonderful experience.

He woke up from his anethesia without trouble, was soothed and went right back to sleep. We woke him up again an hour and asked if he wanted a popsicle. Suddenly he was pretty awake trying to sit up for a popsicle. So sweet. As soon as he finished his popsicle, we took him home. The funny thing that happened was the other family in recovery has a kindergartner at the same school as Ashley and our nurse lives a few blocks away from our house. Small world.

What a trooper. We were so prepared for another bad recovery that everything took us by surprise. We kept waiting for all the bad to happen again, but it hasn't. The only tough thing has been the fact that his two medicines taste really really bad. Brian had to teach Daniel how to chug it then chase it with another drink. Yes, our 4 year old now asks for a chaser with his medicine. Things went so well this week, that he went to school one day and had swim lessons yesterday. His voice is a little nasal and funny, but he is pretty normal at this point.

On Sunday, two days after Daniel has his surgery, my dad had a heartattack while at the ranch. Thankfully, he wasn't alone out at SBR. Uncle Jack was with him. Dad started to feel bad after digging and filling a hole to fix a water leak, and quickly realized he needed to go to the hospital. Uncle Jack drove him to the closest hospital (which is not really close) and thankfully, called 911 from the car to have them notify the hospital Dad was coming in. Once he got to the hospital in Luling, they determined he'd had a heartattack, but needed to send him to Austin for further treatment. Very soon after getting to the Luling hospital, he was sent to Austin's Seton hospital via Life-Flight. When he got to Austin, he had a greeting party waiting for him at the helipad (his sisters, neices and nephew). They sent him to the Cath lab and put a stent in his Circumflex artery, which was 100% blocked.

Meanwhile, Mom and David left Houston as fast as possible. By the time they got to Austin, Dad was already resting comfortably with his stent. I drove up with Shelly that evening when Shelly got back from Louisiana (see her blog for details). Shelly and I drove back the next night, after the cardiologist had given Dad the basic all clear. He and Mom stayed for one more day in Austin at the hospital. Then came home Tuesday afternoon. He saw his Houston cardiologist today and was given the basic litany of eat better, exercise more and get your good cholesteral up and bad cholesteral down. To make a long story short - no more Hacienda Friday's for a while. Or at least - Solemente Pollo - as Omar (our waiter) would joke.

We are very thankful for several things - that Dad wasn't alone at the ranch, that he got to the hospital when he did and many other things. He is feeling better and mostly taking it easy - about as easy as he is capable of taking it.

The funny stories from this Austin trip. Which, if you know us, there is always something happening to one of us that the others have to "comment" on. I'll start with me. When Mom called to tell me about Dad, I decided I wanted to ride with her and David to Luling (and then it changed to Austin). So, I walked around the house for a minute trying to figure out what to do, then grabbed my purse and jumped in the car. When I got to Mom's, she and David both asked me where my bag was. Huh? What bag? I had my purse and cell phone. Oh, you mean, since Dad is out of town and we are going out of town and we don't know how bad it is or when we will be back, I should bring a bag? Yeah, let's just say my mind didn't work that well. So I went back home and waited for Shelly to get back from LA - and packed my bag.

On Monday, Dad was sure he was going to be released and only had one thing on his mind. Clothes. He was worried about what he was going to wear when they let him go home. The only thing with him was his mud covered clothes from digging that hole. When I say it was the only thing on his mind, I'm not kidding. We got to the hospital from the hotel about 8 a.m. and by 10:30, Shelly and I went to buy him clothes because he'd had mentioned it a zillion times. And, after us running all over buying Dad new clothes, shoes, underwear, undershirts, socks, etc. the Doctor came and wanted to keep him another day. Good thing we also picked him up some pajamas just in case.

And just in case you think that was the end of my crazy week - that's only day 3 & 4.